Dear readers, We are back with a new issue of the Secrecy Tracker – your regular update on what the EU institutions prefer to keep under wraps. I am Alexander Fanta, a journalist with Follow the Money, who has struggled for years to gain access to EU documents. I wrote this newsletter with the help»»»

Doha: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice H E Saeed bin Abdullah Al Suwaidi said the ministry is poised to conduct an overall revamp of its real estate service system to be in accord with the Third National Development Strategy and the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. The Undersecret»»»

Doha: Qatar Tourism (QT) has announced a 10-member panel of local and international experts to judge the fourth edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards, organised in collaboration with UN Tourism, as the country continues efforts to strengthen service excellence and enhance its position as a leading gl»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) concluded its participation in the ninth edition of the World Investment Forum (WIF 2026), held in Doha from October 25 to 27 under the theme “Investing in the Future”, contributing to advancing the global development finance agenda, mobilising investm»»»

CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty said Wednesday that he discussed with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan the latest regional developments and de-escalation efforts during a phone call. We discussed “efforts to contain the current crisis and prevent escalation,” noting th»»»

Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy giant Rosatom says it will continue working on Hungary’s Paks II nuclear power plant project, despite significant delays and uncertainty over the Hungarian government’s position on the investment. Rosatom expects next handover in November Rosatom chief executive »»»

Eligible Saudi travellers can benefit from expedited US entry and security screening Dubai: Saudi citizens can now apply for the US Global Entry programme, allowing eligible travellers to enter the United States through expedited immigration and customs procedures, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Aff»»»

The new road cuts distances to Grand Mosque and Jamarat, handling 170,000 vehicles daily Dubai: Saudi Arabia has opened a major extension of Mecca’s Third Ring Road, cutting travel times to the Grand Mosque and the Jamarat facility in Mina by up to 90 per cent, the Royal Commission for Mecca City a»»»

United Development Company (UDC), the master developer of The Pearl and Gewan Islands, yesterday unveiled the masterplan for Perlita Gardens at Cityscape Qatar 2026, marking the launch of a new residential community and opening registration of interest for one of The Pearl Island’s upcoming major r»»»

Dubai-built Mockingjay Network opens early access, linking AI agents from many companies Dubai: Soika Labs has opened early access to its Mockingjay Network, giving UAE companies 5,000 free credits to build AI agents and host them on a shared public network. Co-founder Enzo Amur, announced the move»»»

CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty said Wednesday that discussed with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan the latest regional developments and de-escalation efforts during a phone call. We discussed “efforts to contain the current crisis and prevent escalation,” noting that »»»

Doha, Qatar: Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Minister of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah inaugurated the 4th Qatar Real Estate Forum 2026 yesterday. The event which will run un»»»

Jerusalem: Israelis voted on Tuesday in their highest turnout for decades, with exit polls showing the camp of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that of his rival are neck and neck. Exit polls from the three mainstream Israeli television networks gave the two blocs around 51 seats each in the 1»»»

UAE’s Lana Nusseibeh gains GCC backing in race for UN secretary-general role UAE veteral diplomat Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, 48, envisions a "strong, renewed" United Nations. She wants the world body created in 1945, shortly after World War II, to be "more responsive" to young people. That's the centrepi»»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar has called for a new regional security framework based on respect for state sovereignty and mutual non-aggression, while urging Iran to demonstrate its commitment to regional stability through concrete actions. Director of the Media and Communication Department at th»»»

Ambani-led telco opens at a 21.36% premium while oil and IT stocks pull the Sensex lower Dubai: Jio Platforms shares debuted at Rs1,358 apiece on the NSE and BSE on October 28. The listing came at a 21.36 per cent premium to the Rs1,119 issue price, a gain of Rs 239. For those in the UAE, that conv»»»

Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohammad Al-Manfi said on Tuesday that his country expects to develop a strategic partnership with Moscow. "We expect to develop a strategic partnership aimed at the future," Al-Manfi said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Expanding »»»

Former Brazilian presidential candidate and right‑wing politician Flavio Bolsonaro has fled the country. Defeated in Sunday's presidential runoff, Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has left the country and arrived in Florida, according to BBC sources. The Trump administration confirmed it would gr»»»

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has called on European nations to stop shielding the United States from accountability, following President Trump's admission that he "never believed" in their ceasefire agreement. In a post on X, Baghaei criticized Washington's approach to interna»»»

Coalition talks begin amid tight race between Netanyahu and Eisenkot blocs Israelis voted on Tuesday in their highest turnout for decades, with exit polls showing the camp of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that of his rival are neck and neck. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gul»»»

DUBAI: Iran’s Arabian Gulf Strait Authority, a body set up by Tehran to manage passage requests in the Strait of Hormuz, said on Tuesday all vessels belonging to South Korean shipping company Sinokor would face “legal action” starting on November 1. Tehran has sought to tighten its grip on the stra»»»

Starting from 2027, the government will also double the enhanced child benefit paid for children with chronic illnesses or severe disabilities, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced in a Facebook post published on Monday. The prime minister wrote that approximately 134,000 children currently receiv»»»

Starting in 2027, the comprehensive Wekerle home creation, home renovation, rental housing and student dormitory construction programme will be launched — Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced at a press conference on Tuesday in Budapest detailing the 2027 budget. The Prime Minister said that under»»»

The Bács-Kiskun County Chief Prosecutor's Office has initiated a three-month extension of the pre-trial detention of Balázs Hankó, a Fidesz member of parliament and former Minister of Culture and Innovation, and Veronika Varga-Bajusz, the former State Secretary for Higher Education, Vocational and »»»

The court has issued European and international arrest warrants against Ádám Matolcsy and György Stofa, both implicated in the MNB case. The Budapest Metropolitan Court informed MTI on Tuesday that the Buda Central District Court had issued European and international arrest warrants against two ind»»»

Quick look at current exchange rates - as of October 28- against the UAE dirham Dubai: Softness in Asian currencies continues to benefit UAE expats, who get more back home for every dirham they send. The Indian rupee, Philippine peso and Pakistani rupee are all trading near multi-year lows. Sign up»»»

JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot offered competing claims to lead Israel after Tuesday's election, with Netanyahu calling for a right-wing government and Eisenkot saying voters had rejected the longtime Israeli leader, even as exit polls left their blocs deadlock»»»

King Charles III began a Caribbean tour in the Bahamas on Tuesday, acknowledging “the great suffering of the past” amid calls for an apology over slavery. The 77-year-old monarch, undergoing cancer treatment, will also visit Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting climate threats and attending»»»

RIYADH: The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said early on Wednesday that it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthis towards the western Saudi city of Taif, as cross-border hostilities between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned group have intensified. Saudi Civil Def»»»

Norwegian artist celebrates Pakistani melodies with local children Dubai: A musical moment in Lahore has captured social media attention, with Norwegian singer William Gamborg joining local children to sing Pakistani songs in videos that have been widely shared online. The videos show Gamborg enjoy»»»

A culinary journey: Lulu's World Food Festival showcases diverse flavors in UAE Abu Dhabi: The smell of biryani, the warmth of fresh pastries and a stage full of chefs in whites set the tone on Tuesday evening, when Lulu Hypermarket opened the second season of its World Food festival at Mall WTC Ab»»»

JERUSALEM: Israeli voters delivered a rebuke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s far-right and religious governing coalition, but exit polls Wednesday suggested the election had no clear winner and indicated that the long-serving Israeli leader was far from defeated after three years of war ign»»»

Abu Dhabi park sessions inspire fitness and friendship across ages Abu Dhabi: A simple stroll at Abu Dhabi’s family park, the excitement to check out the robotic dog at the park, the group of three coaches- Mohammed Noushad, Fasal Rahman and Yadhu Krishna, at the Winner Karate Club stepped on the i»»»

Travel advice amid capacity growth, possible new region escalation in the Gulf The US-Israel war with Iran remains a source of regional uncertainty, with reports of possible new US military operations, continued flight disruptions and escalating security threats across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia has in»»»

Police investigate reported abduction of Kalat prince and his entourage Prince Muhammad Khan Ahmedzai, son of the Khan of Kalat, Mir Suleman Dawood Jan Ahmedzai, was reportedly abducted along with three guards while travelling in Balochistan, according to reports in The Express Tribune on Tuesday. »»»

Riga: Latvia has confirmed its first-ever case of bluetongue, a noncontagious viral disease affecting livestock, after cattle tested positive on a small farmstead, the country's Food and Veterinary Service announced on Tuesday. According to the Food and Veterinary Service, two cattle at a farm in D»»»

NCM forecasts winds of up to 50km/h, with fog and mist expected in some areas Dubai: The UAE is expected to experience five days of unsettled weather from today until Sunday, November 1, with possible rainfall, strong winds, blowing dust and fog in some areas, according to the National Centre of Me»»»

New development on Khorfakkan Road will include specialised care facilities and gardens Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has approved the establishment of an integrated care city on Khorfakkan Road, featuring specialised facil»»»

Indian students plan to build a small-scale prototype after their Grade 12 exams Dubai: What if plastic waste could be turned into fuel? A team of seven Indian high school students in Dubai is working on a project that aims to do just that. Called “Methagreen,” the project has been designed to conv»»»

Patrik Štefelin clocks 1:20.66 to claim the 2026 world title in Las Vegas Dubai: Dubai Police rescue team member Patrik Štefelin has won the 2026 Firefighter Challenge League (FCL) World Championship in Las Vegas, United States, clocking an impressive 1 minute and 20.66 seconds to claim the world t»»»

Rome: Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri was handed a two-match Serie A suspension and a fine on Tuesday following his late red card in a 3-3 draw against Roma last weekend. He will miss the Wednesday's match at Monza and Sunday's trip to Juventus. While the club posted a statement on its websi»»»

India targets undisclosed UAE assets with new tax compliance scheme Indian expats who own homes, apartments or commercial properties in the UAE may need to check their Indian income tax returns after the Income Tax Department began contacting select taxpayers over potentially undisclosed overseas a»»»

Updated regulations highlight six mistakes that could cause learners to fail Dubai: Scoring 75 per cent in your UAE driving test may not be enough to secure a licence. Under new federal traffic regulations taking effect on January 1, 2027, learner drivers can still fail their practical test if they»»»

Dozens of beaches and coastal facilities shut to swimming, water activities by visitors Umm Al Quwain/ Ras Al Khaimah/ Sharjah: One more beach in the UAE has been closed, with Dibba Al Hisn Beach in Sharjah shutting temporarily until further notice. The announcement, made by Dibba Al Hisn Municipal»»»

Gulf security and Yemen remain key hurdles in Iran's diplomatic efforts A diplomatic push in Tehran has divided Iranian commentators, with some portraying the visit by Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials as recognition of Iran’s influence and others warning it could bring pressure for concession»»»

PARIS, France: Climate change must be declared a “global health emergency” to shape governments’ policies after heat caused three million deaths between 2016 and 2023, a report in The Lancet said Wednesday. Published by the British medical journal ahead of the COP 31 climate summit in November, the»»»

Iran to take legal action against Sinokor vessels starting November 1 Iran has warned that vessels belonging to South Korean shipping company Sinokor will face “legal action” beginning November 1. The statement issued by Iran's Gulf Strait Authority does not explicitly threaten missile strikes agai»»»

NEW YORK: Mahmoud Khalil, a figurehead of Gaza war protests in the United States, returned Tuesday to Columbia University for the first time since his 2025 arrest under President Donald Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists. The 31-year-old told AFP his presence for an event on his new mem»»»

No major political bloc is projected to secure a parliamentary majority in Israel’s first election since the war with Hamas in Gaza broke out in 2023, according to exit polls released shortly after voting closed on Tuesday evening. Exit polls by public broadcaster Kan 11 and commercial networks Cha»»»

Dar Es Salaam: Health authorities in Tanzania's northeastern Arusha Region have intensified Ebola prevention protocols on Tuesday, training over 100 healthcare workers, designating a specialized isolation center, and enhancing screening at the Namanga border post following a confirmed outbreak in n»»»